So the funny thing about my O character is that her name doesn't really start with O...
O is for... Offred...
Or Ofglenn or Oftom... or whatever name currently donned by the narrator of The Handmaids Tail.
Truly what I consider to be one of the most important pieces of 20th century literature, Margaret Atwood's masterpiece tells a chilling tale of the true and final marginalization of women in modern society.
Offred is the handmaid to Fred (her name, then, becomes Of Fred). This means that Fred is important enough to procreate. Since his barren wife cannot produce children, he gets a handmaid to help do the deed.
The picture of a society that values women only for their ability to help men is truly eye opening, and required reading for any feminist or feminist in training. It truly delivers something to think about.
Showing posts with label Margaret Atwood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Margaret Atwood. Show all posts
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Write by Wednesday-- The Stories that Stay With You
A couple of weeks ago, I had the delightful opportunity to meet a fellow writer that, shockingly, lives in the same tiny, middle-of-nowhere town I inhabit. She had read Max and Menna and gave me some incredible feedback on the book, saying that it had stayed with her.
As a writer, I think that is the best feedback I could possibly hope for from a reader, fellow writer, or anyone else. It took me over a decade to write Max and Menna. I actually do not consider the genre or tone of the book to be in line with my typical style as a writer, but I stuck with it and had to write it because it was a story that I could not shake. The idea that I was able to convey a story that haunted me for a decade in such a way that it stays with people beyond the last page is... well, I love it. That more than any royalty check or sales rank proves to me that I need to keep sitting here and banging away at my laptop weekend after weekend.
I have to give props, though, to so many writers who created books that stayed with me and propelled me forward with my writing, and there are too many to name. However, I have selected the following list, which interests me because of its variety. Some of these books stayed with me because of their beauty, and others because of their depravity. For some, the words linger with me because of the skill of the prose, while some just tell stories too enticing to forget. In no particular order, here is my very abridged hit list of books that took days to leave me:
As a writer, I think that is the best feedback I could possibly hope for from a reader, fellow writer, or anyone else. It took me over a decade to write Max and Menna. I actually do not consider the genre or tone of the book to be in line with my typical style as a writer, but I stuck with it and had to write it because it was a story that I could not shake. The idea that I was able to convey a story that haunted me for a decade in such a way that it stays with people beyond the last page is... well, I love it. That more than any royalty check or sales rank proves to me that I need to keep sitting here and banging away at my laptop weekend after weekend.
I have to give props, though, to so many writers who created books that stayed with me and propelled me forward with my writing, and there are too many to name. However, I have selected the following list, which interests me because of its variety. Some of these books stayed with me because of their beauty, and others because of their depravity. For some, the words linger with me because of the skill of the prose, while some just tell stories too enticing to forget. In no particular order, here is my very abridged hit list of books that took days to leave me:
- Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (I've written about this one and why a whole lot)
- The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
- The Color of Night by Madison Smartt Bell
- World War Z by Max Brooks
- IT by Stephen King
- Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
- Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- Flight by Sherman Alexie
- Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Saturday, April 14, 2012
A to Z Challenge: My Favorite Storytellers-- M
OK, on this one I am cheating again, because there are just so many amazing M's...
Margaret Atwood
I first read The Handmaid's Tale in ninth grade, and it taught me to love women's fiction. For those of you that you haven't read it, this is one is a revolutionary and engrossing post-apocalyptic tale. As it is her most popular, I would also strongly suggest reading The Blind Assassin. Of the thousands of novels I've read, this one is one of my two favorites, ever.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
If you read me gush about the enthralling voice of David Guterson, I bet he probably learned a thing or two from Marquez. If you want to read one of the most beautiful love stories of our time (coming from someone who adamantly despises reading romances), you must check out Love in the Time of Cholera.
Margaret Atwood
I first read The Handmaid's Tale in ninth grade, and it taught me to love women's fiction. For those of you that you haven't read it, this is one is a revolutionary and engrossing post-apocalyptic tale. As it is her most popular, I would also strongly suggest reading The Blind Assassin. Of the thousands of novels I've read, this one is one of my two favorites, ever.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
If you read me gush about the enthralling voice of David Guterson, I bet he probably learned a thing or two from Marquez. If you want to read one of the most beautiful love stories of our time (coming from someone who adamantly despises reading romances), you must check out Love in the Time of Cholera.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Summer Reading List #3-- That book you always meant to read
Of all of my summer reading suggestions, I imagine that this is the one that the most people will have already read. But if you haven't, why not??
On vacation, I always try to read the "How have I never read that before??" book... last summer I read The Picture of Dorian Gray because I couldn't believe I had made it this far in life without reading that book. So here is my suggestion for you...
The Handmaids Tale, by Margaret Atwood
Seriously, if you haven't read this book, do it!! It is honestly one of the most important books of the twentieth century (and that isn't just me talking... most of the literary world agrees).
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In 1986, Margaret Atwood (already a powerhouse voice in the feminist community by then) gave us a frightening vision-- a future where women are so controlled, so restricted, that they have simply become labels to society. The demure and "morally fit" Wives serve as companions to important men, while "Marthas" clean their homes and prepare their meals. Most disturbingly of all, the Handmaids exist in the society to bear children. They are assigned to a man deemed worthy of a child, and become known only by his name (our narrator is Offred, or Of Fred). Their function in life is to get pregnant, give birth, and watch as their child is taken by a wife to raise as her own.
This isn't my favorite book... it isn't even my favorite Margaret Atwood book (that honor goes to The Blind Assassin). But, it is a thoroughly enjoyable and extremely important book. Women, writers, literary lovers... all types. This is a book for everyone!
On vacation, I always try to read the "How have I never read that before??" book... last summer I read The Picture of Dorian Gray because I couldn't believe I had made it this far in life without reading that book. So here is my suggestion for you...
The Handmaids Tale, by Margaret Atwood
Seriously, if you haven't read this book, do it!! It is honestly one of the most important books of the twentieth century (and that isn't just me talking... most of the literary world agrees).
In 1986, Margaret Atwood (already a powerhouse voice in the feminist community by then) gave us a frightening vision-- a future where women are so controlled, so restricted, that they have simply become labels to society. The demure and "morally fit" Wives serve as companions to important men, while "Marthas" clean their homes and prepare their meals. Most disturbingly of all, the Handmaids exist in the society to bear children. They are assigned to a man deemed worthy of a child, and become known only by his name (our narrator is Offred, or Of Fred). Their function in life is to get pregnant, give birth, and watch as their child is taken by a wife to raise as her own. Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Comfort Fiction-- Part 3
In my series on comfort fiction, I have now covered movies, and television. The next logical place is books, right?
But how on Earth do I choose ONE book that comforts me to write about? I love to curl up in books, it is the best way for me to turn my brain off after a tough day? Reading is also a way to challenge myself, stimulate my brain, get my mind going.
There are just too many that I love too much to pick just one comfort book...
So here is what we're going to do-- tell me YOUR comfort fiction. What do you read when life gets rough? Or what book can you read over and over and over again? What book always fills you with some kind of something, or makes you feel infinite?
Post your answers (and the why) below. One lucky commenter is going to win a book... for once, I am not giving away Max and Menna! I am giving away one of my favorite works of comfort fiction, to be chosen based on the particular style of the winning commenter.
But how on Earth do I choose ONE book that comforts me to write about? I love to curl up in books, it is the best way for me to turn my brain off after a tough day? Reading is also a way to challenge myself, stimulate my brain, get my mind going.
There are just too many that I love too much to pick just one comfort book...
- I read Ender's Game once a year. It reminds me of my adolesence (in a good way) and always inspires me
- During tough times, the Sookie Stackhouse novels are incredible ways to turn off the world and escape into some juicy, fanciful, vampire stories
- When I need reminded of how much power there is in simply being a woman, Margaret Atwood is always there for me
- When I needed reminding that the the human spirit can prosper and overcome a lot more than one might think, my beloved Sherman Alexie is there for me
- When I am craving the beautifully weird, hello John Irving
So here is what we're going to do-- tell me YOUR comfort fiction. What do you read when life gets rough? Or what book can you read over and over and over again? What book always fills you with some kind of something, or makes you feel infinite?
Post your answers (and the why) below. One lucky commenter is going to win a book... for once, I am not giving away Max and Menna! I am giving away one of my favorite works of comfort fiction, to be chosen based on the particular style of the winning commenter.
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